How do industrial robots applications affect the quality upgrade of Chinese export trade?

This study examines the effect of industrial robots applications on the quality upgrade of China's manufacturing export products at the enterprise level. It analyzes import and export data ob-tained from the China Customs and Chinese Industrial Enterprises databases from 2000 to 2013. The results show that the industrial robots applications significantly promotes the quality upgrade of Chinese manufacturing export products. Moreover, the impact of industrial robots applications on the export product quality is dynamic; it initially increases and then decreases. Heterogeneity test results indicate greater quality improvement effects if robots feature applications in high-tech industries. We also show that importing more robots and for extended periods promotes the ef-fects of industrial robots applications on the export product quality upgrades of Chinese enter-prises. Mechanism tests reveal that industrial robots applications can upgrade the quality of export products by improving the labor productivity and human capital level of enterprises. Finally, spillover analyses show that industrial robots applications intensity significantly affects export quality upgrades through spillover effects.

Automated summary

This study examines the effect of industrial robots applications on the quality upgrade of China's manufacturing export products at the enterprise level. The results show that industrial robots applications significantly promote the quality upgrade of Chinese manufacturing export products, with the impact being dynamic. The study also finds that robots applied in high-tech industries have greater quality improvement effects, and importing more robots for extended periods further enhances the effects.